USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > The history of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the settlement of the town in 1639 to 1818. Vol. I > Part 26
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Major Treat was given authority to raise an army of volunteers, to kill and destroy all hostile Indians and all such as had escaped from the English. Cohause, an Indian who wounded William Hill, and who had killed several Englishmen, burned an English house and been engaged in several robberies, having been captured between Milford and New Haven, and having been " a desperate enemy of the English " was sentenced by the Assembly as " child of death," to be put to death, " which was done by the Indians."
Ninigret or Ninicroft and his men, having remained faithful to the English, were allowed to remain unmolested in the ownership of their lands. The Mohawks rendered great assistance during this war, and proved useful friends of the New England colonies. William Hill was appointed to sign receipts for the colony tax, which was now 18 pence
* The widow of Surgeon William Ward, of Fairfield, was presented by the General Assembly with one of the young Indian boys .- Col. Rec. Conn., II., 14.
.
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upon a pound. A committee was appointed to value the lands in the several plantations. House lots in Fairfield were valued at 25s. per acre ; one-fourth of the improved farming lands at 20s. and the other three- fourths at 14s. per acre. The taxable estates of the town were valued at £9,428.
For the plentiful harvest of the summer ; the removal of sickness from the plantations; the continuation of their civil and ecclesiastical liberties, and the divine aid they had received in subduing their savage enemies, the third Wednesday of November was appointed a day of general thanks- giving throughout the colony of Connecticut. During this cruel and devastating war, Fairfield became the leading town in the number of its volunteers, and in its bountiful supply of provisions for the army. The old-fashioned chimney ovens of the matrons of Fairfield were filled with loaves of wheaten bread, which they packed in barrels, to be sent from Black Rock to New London. Mothers, wives, and sisters spun wool and linen, out of which they made warm blankets and clothing for their own families, and others who were destitute. Every spare moment, from early dawn until late at night, at the spinning wheel, and with flying knitting needles, was employed in making warm woolen stockings for the feet of the sufferers. The mills of the town were kept in almost constant motion dur- ing the winter, to supply wheaten flour for her own and the Massachu- setts and Plymouth soldiers. The blacksmiths, who combined the art of repairing guns with their trade, were equally as busy; and with the gold- smiths ran shot and bullet-balls for the soldiers. In all New England there was not a more energetic, constant laborer, in forwarding men, ammunition and supplies for the united colonies, than Major Gold. John Banks and Jehu Burr, in their positions as members of the council of war, from their post of duty at Hartford, were among the ablest councilors in the New England colonies. Through Major Gold, dispatches were sent by the council to Major Andros, and John Banks, in several instances, delivered them in person. Sergeant William Ward rendered great assist- ance to the Rev. Gershom Buckley,* besides having the care of the troops at New London. To picture Fairfield at this time, is to exhibit a busy, bustling, thriving town, a centre of civil and military activity. Like most of the western towns of Connecticut, the inhabitants experienced none of the losses, devastations by fire and cruelties of the savages, which the towns in the northern and eastern parts of the colony suffered. " There were but few families or individuals, however, who had not lost some near
* Gershom Buckley, a brother of Thomas and Peter Buckley of Fairfield, was one of the greatest surgeons of his day, and was the chief surgeon of the Connecticut forces in Philip's war.
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relative or friend."* The sons of almost every leading family in the town were in the regular army, or among the volunteers. The brave troops of Connecticut, of which Fairfield always contributed a goodly share, had the honor and happiness of giving a check to the war ; and it is a singular fact, that in all the companies sent out, not one was surprised or cut off. At least one-seventh part of the whole militia, besides the volunteers of Connecticut, were in constant service; and every man and youth in the colony capable of bearing arms, did his duty in watching, warding, and protecting the towns from the neighboring Indians, should they prove troublesome.
It does not appear that the Fairfield Indians committed hostilities upon the planters ; but in the heart of almost every sachem in the country, dwelt the spirit of jealousy, which gave cause at all times for constant vigilance. Indeed " eternal vigilance was the price of liberty " to all the planters of New England. Some of the Indians of Fairfield shared in the glory of this war, of which mention has already been made.
The troops and volunteers of Connecticut were now disbanded ; but each county kept a military force ready for service, in any sudden emer- gency.
Great pains was taken this year to promote Christian training in fami- lies, which resulted in the passage of the following law by the General Court :
" Whereas reading the Bible, catechising of children & daily prayer is part of God's worship, & the homage due to Him, to be attended conscientiously by every Christian family to distinguish them from the heathen, who call not upon God, this Court recom- mends the ministers in the towns to visit each family, & inquire into the state of religious training, to convince & instruct them in their duty, & by all due means to encourage them, that none may be found among us utterly ignorant or profane."
The officers and families of each town were called upon to assist the clergyman in his work. If any heads or governors of families proved obsti- nate or refractory, the grand jury was to present such persons to the county court, to be fined or punished, or bound to good behavior, according to the merits of the case. All persons sojourning or living in families were required by law to attend the worship of God, " & to be subject to the domestic government of the said families, under a penalty of five shillings for every breach of this order." It was also made a law that no children
* About six hundred of the inhabitants of New England, the greater part of whom were the flower and strength of the country, either fell in battle, or were murdered by the enemy .- Trum- bull's Hist. of Conn., I., 368.
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should be able to dispose of themselves, under pretense of lawful marriage, without the consent of their parents, or without the approbation of the authorities of the place. Before any man was allowed to enter into the holy state of wedlock, he was required to make known his intentions to the parents or guardians of the woman he wished to marry. If the woman was without either, he was obliged to consult with and gain permission from the town authorities, before he was permitted to pursue his court- ship. It was also a law that the nuptials should not be celebrated until eight days after the marriage contract, during which time the names of the parties to be married, were required to be published in some public meeting.
That a more strict regard might be paid to the Sabbath, than appears to have been observed during the religious excitement which had prevailed in the colony, the following law was passed :
" Whereas, Notwithstanding former provision made for the due sanctification of the Sabbath, it is observed that by sundry abuses the Sabbath is profaned, the ordinances ren- dered unprofitable, which threatens the rooting out of the power of Godliness, & the procuring of the wrath & judgements of God upon us & our posterity, for prevention whereof, it is ordered by this Court, that if any person or persons henceforth, either on the Saturday night, or on the Lord's Day night, though it be after the sun is set, shall be found sporting in the streets or fields of any town in this Jurisdiction, or be drinking in the houses of public entertainment, or elsewhere, unless for necessity, every such person so found, complained of & proved transgressing, shall pay ten shillings for every such transgression, or suffer corporal punishment for default of due payment ; nor shall any sell or draw any sort of strong drinks at any time, or be used in any such manner upon the like penalty of every default."
" It is also further ordered that no servile work shall be done on the Sabbath, viz : such as are not works of piety, charity, or necessity, & no profane discourse or talk, rude or unreverent behaviour shall be used on that holy day, upon the penalty of ten shillings for every transgression hereof ; & in case it be circumstanced with high handed pre- sumption as well as profaneness, the penalty is to be augmented at the discretion of one of the judges." *
In order to suppress extravagance, as well as to discourage persons of humble walks in life from aiming to appear in public above their station, the following law was passed :
" Whereas, excess in apparell amongst us is unbecoming a wilderness condition, & the profession of the gospel, whereby the rising generation is in danger to be corrupted, which practices are testified against in God's Holy Word. It is therefore ordered by this Courte & authority thereof that whatsoever person shall wear gold or silver lace, or gold or silver buttons, silk ribbons, or other superfluous trimings, or any bone-lace above three shil-
* Col. Rec. Conn., II., 280.
-
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lings per yard. or silk scarfs, the list makers of the respective towns are hereby required to assesse such persons so offending (or their husbands, parents or masters, under whose government they are,) in the list of estates, & they to pay their rates according to that proportion, as such men use to pay to whom such apparell is allowed as suitable to their ranke : provided this law shall not extend to any magistrate or public officer of the colony, their wives or children, whoe are left to their discression in wearing of apparell, or any settled military commission officer, or such whose quality and estate have been above the ordinary degree though now decayed."
" It is further ordered that all such persons as shall for the future make, or wear, or buy apparell exceeding the quality & condition of their persons & estates, or that is appa- rently beyond the necessary end of apparell for covering or comliness, either of these to be judged by the Grand Jury & County Court where such presentments are made, shall forfeit for every such offence ten shillings. And if any taylor shall fashion any garment for any child or servant, contrary to the mind of the parent or master of such child or servant, he shall forfeit for every such offence ten shillings."
There appears to have been a strong effort made by the governor and magistrates of Connecticut at this time, to meet the increasing demand of the people, in regard to the method of ecclesiastical taxation. In October the General Court ordered, that where there was more than one religious society in a town, all persons should pay to one or both of them towards the minister's maintenance, viz. :
" If they shall choose to pay to one, they shall pay in full proportion to the rest of that society ; if not, they shall pay to both societies : the one half of every such person's estate shall be rated with the people of one society : & the other half of their estate with those of the other society, in full proportion with their neighbors of each society."
The bitter experiences of the New England planters at this time in their religious as well as civil troubles, and the terrible war with the Indi- ans, led the General Court to urge upon all the ministers of the colony, " to stir up & awaken their congregations to the duties of serious repent- ance & reformation," for which purpose the third Wednesday in Novem- ber was set apart.
In the month of September the townsmen of Fairfield invited Richard Burgiss of Boston, a blacksmith, to settle among them ; and as an induce- ment for him to remain, he was granted a small piece of land on the south- west corner of the church-green for his shop, and an interest in the per- petual common for pasture and wood. He accepted the invitation, and on the 9th of January following the above lands were confirmed to him. His shop for many years stood on the Church-green, south-west of the meet- ing-house and school-house .*
* B, Town Votes, p. 61.
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In January the governor of Massachusetts received from Mr. Nathaniel Mather of Ireland, one thousand pounds, "to be divided among the colo- nies for the relief of the distressed." On account of the great suffering of the Massachusetts and Plymouth towns, several of which had been wholly cut off, the General Assembly of Connecticut, at this time, presented these two colonies with their proportion of this gift. At the May election Major Gold continued in his office of assistant to the General Assembly ; John Banks and John Wheeler were chosen deputies, and Jehu Burr and John Banks commissioners. A law was passed to prevent the exportation from the colony of buck and doe skins, " which had been so serviceable & useful for clothing," under a penalty of forfeiting the full value of each skin. It appears that Sasco James made an application to the Assembly at this time, for the release from prison of an Indian by the name of Alin- chanks which was refused ; the cause of his arrest does not appear.
The officers who had served in Philip's war, were honored with the same position in the train-bands of their respective towns, as they held during the war, or a portion of the band, even if commanded by a militia officer. They were also freed from half their watch and ward in times of peace. John Banks was appointed one of a committee to be present at the house of Mr. John Bull, in the conquered Narragansett country, on the Ioth of June, to meet with a committee from Massachusetts, to examine the lands, and to judge what parts were suitable for plantations, the number of inhabitants to form settlements, and to fix the bounds of each town .*
The Assembly considered that the Connecticut troops had largely con- quered and subdued the Narragansetts, and therefore had just claims to those lands. In view of this fact, they regarded the act of the king's commissioners, in making Narragansett and Rhode Island the king's province null, by virtue of their conquests.
While the Narragansetts and their allies were conquered, the remnant of their tribes still continued to afflict the border plantations. In considera- tion of this grievance, the secret efforts of Major Andros and his asso- ciates to gain control of the chief offices of Connecticut, and the suffer- ings of their sister colonies from the eastern Indians, the last day of May was appointed a day of fasting and prayer, specially for blessing upon their cause before the king of England. The colony tax was reduced to 8d. on a pound, to defray the expenses of the late war, to be paid in wheat, peas, Indian corn, pork and beef, at their legal rates. A law was
* See John Banks and Major Talcott's report, dated June 16, 1777-Col. Rec. of Conn., 589, 590.
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passed regulating the price of tanning hides, also for shoemakers. No shoemaker was allowed to charge over five pence half penny for plain and wooden-heeled shoes, above men's sevens three soled ; nor "above seven pence half penny for well wrought French falls." Lieutenant Cor- nelius Hull was granted one hundred acres of land, to be laid out to him where he should choose to select it at Fairfield, provided it did not inter- fere with other grants. John Banks was made one of a committee to audit the colonial treasurer's account.
The leading men of Connecticut had, at this time, cause for increased anxiety in regard to their chartered liberties. Enemies to their peace had been busy during the war both at home and in England. In conse- quence of the continuation of this unhappy state of things, the 21st of November was appointed a day of fasting and prayer. The ministers throughout the colony were requested " to stir up their people to the work of solemn humiliation & prayer, with turning to the Lord in this our day of Jacob's trouble."
At a meeting of the townsmen of Fairfield, November 2d, Samuel More- house was granted liberty to erect a fence across the highway in Uncoa neck, with gates for egress and regress. This fence probably stood a very short distance south-east of the present Black Rock bridge. A heavy fine was exacted if any of the town gates were left open.
To prevent fires, every house owner was ordered to keep a long ladder on his house. This custom is still observed by some of the farmers. Each house owner was also ordered " to sweep his chimneys in the winter once a fortnight, & in the summer once a month." Richard Wilson was appointed for the east end of the town, and Henry Castle for the west end. If the chimney sweepers and the house owners could not agree about the necessity of sweeping any chimney, they were to submit the question to some indifferent person. In November Samuel Morehouse and the rest of the east farmers, were granted liberty by the townsmen to erect a stable " 20 ft. square, & 9 ft. broad & 40 ft. long, at some con- venient place on the Meeting-house green."
At the May election Major Gold was chosen an assistant, Jehu Burr and Richard Hubbell deputies, and William Hill and Jehu Burr commis- sioners for Fairfield. Jehu Burr was also appointed to administer the oath of a commissioner to the other commissioners, of the county. John Banks was made one of a committee, to settle the bounds between Stam- ford and Norwalk.
At a town meeting held June 25th, it was voted that Richard Ogden's mill on Mill river and the land adjoining it, should be conveyed to him by
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a written deed, according to a former contract. It was also agreed to talk with him about removing the mill. Sergeant George Squire was appointed to care for the preservation of the school lands. In addition to the school laws already passed, the General Court ordered that every town should keep a school at least three months in a year, or forfeit five pounds, which sum should be paid towards the maintenance of a grammar school in the county.
In order " to stir up & excite the county towns to the attendance of so wholesome an order " as that of keeping up a good Latin school, it was decreed, that if any of the county towns neglected to keep such a school, they should pay the fine of ten pounds to the next town in their county which accepted this requirement, "& so ten pounds annually, till they came up to the attendance of this order." The schools were maintained by a general tax, unless some other way of supporting a school-master was adopted. It was further ordered that any town which had increased to the number of thirty families, should maintain a school " to teach children to read & write."
The town of Fairfield granted to Mr. Josiah Harvey the overplus of his school rate. This vote gives a clue to the school-master of the central district of the town at that time.
Isaac Wheeler, John Odell and Mathew Sherwood, in the name of the inhabitants of Pequonnock, presented a petition, that they might retain their school tax, towards maintaining a school on the east side of Uncoway river. They represented that as they lived almost four miles from the centre of the town, they found it very difficult to send their children so far to school, " & if any, none but the greatest whom [they] cannot spare to send constantly abroad."-" They had hired a school master, 'who had been approved on that account' in several towns in the colony ; & they had forty seven children already entered at school, besides several others, who could not be spared except in winter. They desired no help from the town, but asked 'that they might be freed from paying to the town in reference to their school.'"
The Rev. Samuel Wakeman added his recommendation in favor of the petition in the following words : " The above petition, brought unto me for my advice & countainance, finds me as an unfeigned well willer to ye (as I thinke) honest scope of your said petitioners, & carries with it so reasonable an aspect, yt I am bold to subjoine my humble request to theyrs (yt other difficulties being solved (if it may be) by your prudent interposition & direction) yt may find you ready to grant theyr desirs, & further them in theyr well ment motion."
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The governor and assistants recommended the court of Fairfield to grant to the planters of Pequonnock as much as they could spare of their county taxes and fines, for the settlement and encouragement of a gram- mar school .*
The teacher they had already hired was Mathew Bellamy. He had taught at Stamford in 1658, and had also been a teacher at Guilford and Killingworth, and was at Saybrook in 1677. He is supposed to have been the grandfather of the noted Rev. Joseph Bellamy.t
The following year, " the town granted unto Mr. Bellamy one acre of land on the east side of Unquowa River for a building lot," provided, " he be a school-master within the town of Fairfield seven years from this date." Two acres more were soon after added to this grant. In case he removed before the expiration of seven years, he was to forfeit the land to the town, and they were to pay him for such improvements as he had made upon it. In case he died within the seven years, the land with its improvements, was to revert to his wife and children .¿ At the sitting of the October Assembly, it was voted that the Indian male servants living in English families, should be taxed as other persons until further orders. The colony tax was reduced to three pence on a pound to be paid in county pay.§
Increased apprehensions still existed among the leading men of New England, on account of the malicious representations made against them by their enemies to the king of England. Most conspicuous among these was Sir Edward Randolph, who came to Boston in 1676; and annually, either in person or by writing, made complaints against them, specially in regard to their acts of trade and navigation. Being well informed of the influences at work, the colonists were apprehensive of being totally deprived of their liberties.
At the May election Major Gold continued in his office of assistant of the General Assembly, John Banks and Richard Hubbell were re-elected as deputies, and John Burr and Jehu Burr were made commissioners.
A law complimentary to the king was passed during the sitting of this Assembly, which was as follows :
"This Court orders that the present roades from plantation to plantation shall be reputed the country roades or 'King's Highway,' & so to remayne untill the Court doe see good reason to make alteration of the same. And whereas the inhabitants of each plantation, are by law required once a yeare to worke a day in cleareing of the brush, it is by this Court recommended to the townesmen of the severall plantations, to improve
* Col. Rec. Conn., II .. 8.
+ Savage's Genealogical Dictionary.
# B, Fairfield Town Votes, 1678.
§ Col. Rec. Conn., III., 16.
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their inhabitants in cleareing the comon roades, in the first place, that lye between towne & towne, vntill the sayd roades are cleared at least one rod wide."
From this date the road known as the King's Highway, at Fairfield, received its name.
In 1679, previous to which time, everything connected with the settle- ment of Fairfield appears to have worn a most encouraging aspect, the town was visited by a most alarming epidemic. But little information is to be found about it, or what the character of the disease was, which made such ravages among the inhabitants. From a document to be found in the State House, at Hartford, the following account is given :
"Fairfield, 1679 .- A sore sickness attended with an uncommon mortality in this town, though very healthy in the neighboring towns. There died about 70 persons within three months & there was hardly enough well persons to tend the sick & bury the dead."
New England was generally afflicted. Sickness prevailed in many of the settlements, the crops were visited with mildew and blight, and cater- pillars and worms destroyed the vegetables and fruits. The 3d of June was set apart by the General Court " as a day of public humiliation & prayer." In the month of September the same year, "the 'Reformed Synod' met at Boston, to consider the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring his judgments on New England." The celebrated Mather men- tions the evils which fell upon New England colonies at that time. He says :
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